The federal government intervenes in the territory of the provinces to guarantee the republican form of government or to repel foreign invasions, and upon request of its authorities created to sustain or re-establish them, if they have been deposed by sedition or by the invasion of another province.

Upon intervention, the branches of the provincial government are dissolved, and the federal government must appoint a new authority (called interventor) who will serve for a short term until the situation is normalized.